LXC
Linux Containers
Overview
LXC (Linux Containers) is an operating-system-level virtualization method for running multiple isolated Linux systems (containers) on a control host using a single Linux kernel. It provides a low-level set of tools, libraries, and language bindings to create and manage system or application containers.
✨ Key Features
- OS-level virtualization
- Uses kernel namespaces, cgroups, AppArmor, and Seccomp
- Can run full Linux distributions in containers (system containers)
- Powerful API and simple tools
- Lightweight and high performance
🎯 Key Differentiators
- Focus on system containers (running a full OS)
- Low-level and highly flexible
- Mature and stable project
Unique Value: Provides a lightweight and efficient way to run full Linux systems in isolated containers.
🎯 Use Cases (3)
✅ Best For
- Foundation for the LXD container manager
- Used for system-level containerization
💡 Check With Vendor
Verify these considerations match your specific requirements:
- Application container orchestration at scale (better handled by Kubernetes)
- Users seeking a simple, all-in-one developer experience like Docker
🏆 Alternatives
More focused on system containers than Docker's application containers, and provides the low-level foundation for the more user-friendly LXD.
💻 Platforms
✅ Offline Mode Available
🔌 Integrations
💰 Pricing
Free tier: LXC is a free and open-source project.
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